The Springboks have thrown their weight behind Tendai Mtawarira, and believe there is still life in the 'Beast' despite a string of young loosehead props knocking on the door for Test selection.
The 31-year-old Sharks prop is set play his 90th game for the Springboks in the final Test of their three-match series on Saturday against France at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Mtawarira, whose nickname is chanted from the stands every time he touches the ball or makes a big hit, has been steady in the first two Test matches. However, he is under pressure from players such as the exciting Steven Kitshoff, who has been playing some exceptional rugby over the last two years - firstly for the Stormers and then in France for Union Bordeaux Bègles.
The ginger-haired prop Kitshoff is strong in the scrum, but his work-rate is the standout feature of his game. Kitshoff is a strong, aggressive defender, while he also carries the ball well and he hits a lot of rucks.
Mtawarira has been decent at scrum time against the French. He has won a few scrum penalties, but has also been blown up on a couple of occasions in Pretoria and Durban. However, while his work-rate is still right up there, he doesn't carry the ball with the venom that he used to. But the prop is certainly still playing with the same passion, as he has been quite animated at times when the Bok scrum dominated the French or got a penalty.
The Springboks certainly still see Mtawarira as key player in the team, with fellow prop Coenie Oosthuizen and forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot coming out to bat for the veteran prop this week.
"I don't think anyone knows what goes into working towards a Test match. Test match rugby is not Super Rugby; it's way harder. It's a dark, dark corner when you step into the front row," said Oosthuizen, who also plays with Mtawarira at the Sharks in Super Rugby.
"It's a personal battle between you and the next guy. I think the French are a very good pack of forwards and they have the weight advantage in the scrum. A pack that is heavy always scrum well.
"Beast, at the end of the day, handled the situation quite nicely. That's why he got so emotional. He got frustrated, because things don't always work the way you intend it to work.
"As a player playing next to him, it gives me a sense of pride and it lifts you mentally when you see our loosehead dominate their tighthead. If you can get that right, then the whole scrum will dominate. Beast is doing that."
Proudfoot also came out strongly against Mtawarira's critics, and said the prop's experience is critical if the Boks want to do well leading into the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
"To say a guy with 90 caps is past it, in my opinion that is crazy," Proudfoot said. "Coenie is probably next in line in terms of Test caps.
"When you talk about the dark arts, it comes with experience, and experienced players have so much knowledge, having been there and done that. They are passing it on to the rest of the guys.
"You don't see the work these guys put in, in the gym and binding sessions. These are the dark arts that I'm taking about. I have been really happy with the props in the squad."
"Beast's contribution has been incredible. If you talk to any of the props in the squad... he has been great."
Proudfoot says the reason why Mtawarira has been so emotional over the last few weeks is because of what he puts in at training. He still wants to be the best and has the desire to do well in the Bok jersey.
"The important thing is that guys are taking pride in their work. When guys are invested in it and take pride in it... when they gain that that success, it's a massive boost for them," Proudfoot said.
"I'm pleased that we have six props who have dynamic personalities and who are driving the system. That bodes well for South African rugby. I have been very happy from that perspective."